By ANNE-MARIE EMERSON
A FAMILY business that relocated from South Africa five years ago has been judged Wanganui's best business for 2007.
Quality Safety, which manufactures a wide variety of safety and medical equipment, took out the Supreme Award at the ABN AMRO Craigs Wanganui Business of the Year Awards at the Memorial Hall on Saturday night.
Nearly 400 guests gathered at the glittering black-tie event to mingle, network and celebrate Wanganui's business achievements.
They were treated to entertainment from comedian Phil Kingsley-Jones, music by Divas Downunder and The Lick, and a troupe of colourful can-can girls.
Guy and Karen Collins of Quality Safety were overwhelmed by their win.
"I can't believe it I'm just blown away," said Mr Collins.
Quality Safety was set up in South Africa, but an increasingly difficult environment there led the couple to relocate to New Zealand.
"We had a lot of strife in South Africa with the crime.
"It was really in the Lord's hands that we ended up here in Wanganui."
Some of the company is still in South Africa, but Mr Collins said he hoped to have the entire team in Wanganui by the end of the year.
Mr Collins said the couple loves being in Wanganui.
"It's a good place for business - but it's more than that; it's just an awesome place to be."
Quality Safety recently won a contract with the Ministry of Health to supply respiratory masks in the event of a pandemic such as bird flu.
The judges' citation said Quality Safety successfully "blended private and public sector clients, domestic and international".
"They have also mixed large-volume manufacturing with small-run niche market provision.
"Quality Safety presents a complete manufacturing base, innovation, growth and provision, and enthusiasm for the task at hand."
The company also won the Horsley Christie Primary Industry, Manufacturing and Exporting Excellence Award.
Another high flyer at the awards was the Wanganui branch of Opus International Consultants, which took home three awards.
Manager Jenny Harrison said she was very proud of the Opus team, especially as they had not previously featured at the awards.
"We entered last year and didn't even get a visit from the judges, so this is wow!"
Wanganui Opus has won a swag of awards recently, including a New Zealand Planning Institute Award and the Shell Bitumen Major Projects Awards.
Massey University's James Lockhart, speaking on behalf of the judging panel, said Wanganui continued to provide excellent examples of free enterprise.
"This is despite ever-increasing compliance costs and the vagaries of Wellington's decision makers".
He said he hoped the participants had enjoyed the chance to reflect on their business practices, and urged those who hadn't entered to do so next year.
The judges will be holding a workshop for those wanting to enter next year's awards. For more information contact the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce.
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